Week 9: RedZone Report

Analysis

by Carl Knowles - Nov 9, 2016

lions-ellison-td — Image courtesy of vikings.com

The downward spiral continued Sunday as the Detroit Lions upset the Minnesota Vikings 22-16 at US Bank Stadium. Matt Prater kicked a 58-yard field goal for the Lions (5-4) to force overtime shortly after the Vikings (5-3) took a 16-13 lead with just 23 seconds to play in regulation.

Mathew Stafford connected with Golden Tate for the game winning 28-yard touchdown on the opening drive of overtime to end the contest.

Stafford threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but the Vikings actually produced more first downs and out-gained the Lions 337 to 311 net yards. An inability to capitalize in the red zone, poor third down defense, a block field goal and a missed extra point was the storyline behind the Vikings defeat.

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Good Vikes Hunting with Eric Eager of PFF [PODCAST]

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Nov 9, 2016

The Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings are indeed in the hunt for some good will after falling to 5-3 after a promising five-game win streak to begin the 2016 campaign. To make some sense of the mess, I brought in Dr. Eric Eager, Pro Football Focus contributor, to talk a little Purple and explain to me the method behind the PFF madness. Should people treat their grades as gospel? (No.) And what is the best way for the average jackass fan (like Andy) to incorporate PFF’s content to enrich their viewing experience and make them a better fan.

We also dove into general Vikings topics: Why does it appear that Anthony Barr is struggling? What makes Terence Newman so valuable this season? Was Norv really the only problem on the offense? #TeamTeddy or #TeamBradford going forward? And some Blair Walsh derpiness. Plus Eric shares memories of squaring off against THE Winona State University’s Chris Samp (aka Jeff Janis before Jeff Janis.)

All that and more “Do You Like Apples?” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

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Different Year, Same Story: The Vikings Midseason Review

Analysis

by Adam Patrick - Nov 9, 2016

tempttl-best-101416-1-117-nfl_mezz_1280_1024 — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

For a majority of people that root for an NFL team, they are used to their favorite squad either being a consistent winner or a consistent loser. Occasionally their team will have a random season on the other end of the spectrum, but for most, the outcomes usually stay the same each and every year.

However, no team in the league is as good at ripping the hearts out of their fans’ chests and then immediately scheduling an emergency heart transplant like the Minnesota Vikings are.

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Vikings Activate QB Taylor Heinicke, Waive TE MyCole Pruitt

General News

by BJ Reidell - Nov 8, 2016

Waive TE MyCole Pruitt — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Injuries have a way of influencing the way teams operate both on and off the field. The balance between sufficient depth and play-making potential is often put to the test when faced with a lengthy injury report.

After weaving through a multitude of high-impact injuries, the Minnesota Vikings were forced to make a difficult decision in an effort to field a 53-man roster that boasts talent, depth, and stability.

The Vikings announced they have activated Taylor Heinicke from their non-football injury list, and, in order to clear a roster spot for the former Old Dominion quarterback, the team waived tight end MyCole Pruitt.

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To Win Again, Vikings Must Rediscover Their Identity

by Austin Belisle - Nov 8, 2016

The Minnesota Vikings face a bit of an identity crisis. The team that started the regular season 5-0 is suddenly 5-3, stuck in the middle of an ugly three-game losing streak.

Minnesota’s vaunted defense isn’t just bending, it’s breaking. The offense, mired in mediocrity, is making the slow transition from Norv Turner to newly-minted offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. And head coach Mike Zimmer, for all his acclaim, can’t seem to right the ship.

It’s not that the Vikings were a bad team simply squeaking by; at one point, the defense was compared to the vaunted 1985 Chicago Bears. And it’s not that the roster is full of holes; general manager Rick Spielman’s long been praised for his ability to draft, develop, and maintain a deep collection of talented players.

No, it’s that the Vikings have lost their identity.

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